Embedded FPGA with Multiple Configurable Flexible Logic Blocks Instantiated and Interconnected by Abutment

ABSTRACT

An embedded field programmable gate array (EFPGA) includes several abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs). Each ACLB is interconnected with adjacent ACLBs by abutment of an out pin to an adjacent in pin. Each ACLB may be an instance of multiple programmable functional blocks. Each ACLB may be a particular ACLB type that provides a particular instance of the multiple programmable functional blocks. The EFPGA may include several ACLBs of the same type. An ACLB of one type may be adjacent an ACLB of a different type. The ACLBs may form sets that are configured identically. The sets may be interconnected by abutment of an out pin to an adjacent in pin. The EFPGA may be part of a system-on-chip integrated circuit. A method for designing an EFPGA with ACLBs that are interconnected by abutment is disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Pat. No. 9,048,827 “Flexible Logic Unit” issued Jun. 2, 2015 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,077,339 “Robust Flexible Logic Unit” issued Jul. 7, 2015 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of implementing an embedded field programmable gate array (EFPGA) within an integrated circuit (IC) or a System-on-Chip (SOC); and specifically for optimizing the space used on the SOC by use of abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs) that are interconnected by abutment to adjacent ACLBs in the EFPGA.

Background

Integrated circuits (ICs) have found applications in all areas of human life, like from home to health and communications to transportation. The ICs have also become larger with a plurality of circuits implemented in a System-on-Chip (SOC) implementation. As these ICs have become larger in size there is a definite need for the capability to configure them to handle a plurality of applications. This capability is provided to the SOC by including reconfigurable circuits in the form of an embedded field programmable gate array (EFPGA) on the SOC. Further EFPGAs can be used to replace defective circuit elements on a SOC to improve the yield and hence reduce the cost of the SOC in applications as well as to off load computations from the on chip central processing unit (CPU) to enable it to perform other essential functions.

A field programmable gate array (FPGA) is a general-purpose, multi-level programmable logic device that is customized in the package by the end users. FPGAs are composed of blocks of logic connected with programmable interconnect. An embedded field programmable gate array (EFPGA) is an FPGA that is included as part of an IC that also includes specialized, non-programmable circuits that can be connected to the EFPGA to provide an IC that retains some end user programmability while providing capabilities that are difficult to achieve with an FPGA.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary representation 100 of a typical prior art embedded field programmable gate array (EFPGA) and FIG. 2 shows an exemplary representation 200 of a typical stand-alone implementation of a prior art FPGA. Typical EFPGAs 100 are implemented using configurable logic blocks (CLBs) 101 that are programmable with programmable interconnect elements 104 associated with each CLB that can be used to connect the inputs and outputs of the CLBs 101, to other CLBs 101, on the FPGA 100, using connection wires 102 and 103, running in pre-defined routing channels on the FPGA 100. These routing channels 102 and 103, used for interconnection between the CLBs 101, occupy a substantial percentage of the area of the FPGA 100 and hence on the SOC where the EFPGA 100 is embedded. In the case of the prior art stand-alone FPGA, 200, CLBs 101 are interconnected via switchable interconnection 203 to wires running in wiring channels 201 to connect to other CLBs 101. These wires in the wiring channels 201, in addition to interconnecting the CLBs 101 connect the inputs and outputs of the FPGA to input/out (I/O) pads 202. It has been shown that programming of the FPGA 100 of this nature is difficult and time consuming and the routing channels used for running a sufficiency of wires for interconnection consumes a substantial area on the FPGA.

The placement of the CLBs and interconnection is generally done when the FPGA is being placed routed and programmed. As such the wire lengths, switch counts and associated delays are unknown till the place and route program is run and hence do not provide the designers the capability to simulate the delays of the circuit prior to implementation. This is a problem in many large SOCs where accurate timing simulation during design is a very helpful for fast design completion and to ensure correct operation of the designed product.

It would be desirable to provide an EFPGA that allows a multiplicity of programmable CLBs to be designed to fit the design requirements that can be interconnected without interconnect wires running within dedicated routing channels, thereby reducing the area requirement on the SOC for embedding the EFPGA. It is also desirable to provide the capability to reduce the time for implementation of an EFPGA using computerized automation and the capability for timing simulation.

SUMMARY

Implementing large functional circuits with multiple functional blocks (FBs) has become common with integrated circuits (ICs) that are System-on-Chip (SOC) implementations. Embedded field programmable arrays (EFPGAs) included as part of the SOC provide functional programmability for circuit re-configuration, design/manufacturing error repair, etc., for the SOC implementation. Most of the present day EFPGAs comprise a single type of configurable logic block (CLB) that is programmable and arrayed within the embedded space. During design implementation these CLBs are programmed and interconnected to provide the needed functionality. The interconnection scheme typically require specialized programmable switches and interconnect channels within the embedded array space carrying interconnect wires to connect between the instantiated and functional CLBs of the EFPGA. The use of a single type of CLB and use of routing channels to complete the design creates major constraints for the EFPGA in terms of silicon area utilization and wire length related delay assessments. These connection channels of the EFPGA take up a comparably large percentage of the IC/SOC area used when EFPGAs are included and used for the design.

A new EFPGA implementation using multiple abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs) that are themselves instantiable modules of programmable FBs, that can be abutted to provide connectivity, is described. By using a hierarchical implementation methodology, a complex and fully scalable EFPGA design without resource issues and high performance is enabled. These multiple ACLBs are made to interconnect by abutment using pin assignment and alignment features and pin placement capability available in current place and route routines. This provides full connectivity between the adjacent ACLBs of different types generating the EFPGA. No additional dedicated routing, except for clock and global controls are needed on the IC/SOC to interconnect these ACLBs forming the EFPGA, designed for specific functionalities, as all connectivity is achieved through abutment.

The new invention relates to implementing a multiplicity of pre-defined types of abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs) that can be used as multiple instantiated functional logic (FL) modules, to meet the demands of a design and ensuring that they are hierarchically organized within the design flow to enable connectivity requirements to only the neighboring ACLBs. Such an FPGA design flow which takes care of the control mechanisms and interconnects has not been proposed or implemented in the past. This type of abutted design of EFPGAs using the pre-designed set of ACLBs and hierarchical flow capability brings flexibility to the design while providing predictable performance by avoiding additional wire delays in the design. Timing performance, power consumption and matrix area of any EFPGA configuration can be automatically extracted based on this abutted design method. The elimination of routing channels and wires also reduces the wasted area on silicon.

As in a typical EFPGA design, the design of an EFPGA according to the invention uses multiple instantiations of a number of pre-defined types of ACLB implementations to complete the design. By having multiple pre-defined ACLB block master implementations in a library, it is possible to check out multiple design layout configurations using the available master ACLBs to optimize the design parameters.

As a first phase the basic design requirement is assessed for the types of pre-defined ACLBs that need to be used. Master sets of ACLBs are identified to be used to generate the EFPGA. Placements and abutments of the master ACLBs are then defined and pin placement done to ensure proper inter-connections between adjacent ACLBs by abutment. The chosen or designed master ACLBs with pin placement are characterized fully for functionality and timing. The master sets of ACLBs are then replicated and placed in an array format with fully abutted neighbors. A dedicated global clock and control interconnection layer on top of the laid out EFPGA is used to distribute the clock and control inputs and ensure that they are synchronized within the EFPGA layout to complete the design and layout of the EFPGA. Having such a dedicated interconnect layer makes the clock and global control circuits scalable to fit the layout of the EFPGA. Interconnections to and from the EFPGA are also defined to the I/O pads and to other fixed embedded instantiated blocks, such as memories and embedded processors, that are required for the IC design to complete the IC layout. Configuration of the EFPGA to complete the functional IC design is performed in a sequential manner based on the register-transfer level (RTL) design flow of the design.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention by way of example and not limitation. In the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art field programmable gate array (FPGA) showing the configurable logic blocks (CLBs) and interconnect resources.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art FPGA showing the input/output (I/O) pads and component connection capabilities.

FIG. 3 is a block depiction of abutted connections between instantiated modules as per an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram of a fully abutted multiple flexible logic unit (FLU) block array architecture implementing an embedded field programmable gate array (EFPGA) in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram defining a set of master block types and their abutment for use in implementing an EFPGA design in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A shows a first exemplary representation of the use of pin placements based on neighboring block type to enable abutment of the blocks as per embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6B shows a second exemplary representation of the use of pin placements based on neighboring block type to enable abutment of the blocks as per embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6C shows a third exemplary representation of the use of pin placements based on neighboring block type to enable abutment of the blocks as per embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary implementation of a sample design of an EFPGA as per an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary EFPGA implemented with full abutment of cells as per an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flow chart of the abuttable EFPGA implementation as per an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and mechanical compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the embodiments of the present invention is defined only by the claims of the issued patent.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic diagram 300 of an implementation that embodies the disclosed invention. The embedded FPGA (EFPGA) schematic 301 comprises multiple predefined abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs) 305-1, 304-1, 303-1 that enable the implementation of the circuit. The inputs to the EFPGA schematic 301 are provided via connections 302 to the ACLBs at the periphery of the EFPGA schematic 301. Similarly the output from the EFPGA schematic 301 is shown as a bus 306. The abutted connections are by appropriate pin placement at the ACLB edges based on the ACLBs being abutted.

The connections between similar ACLBs are designated 307-x-x, where x is a digit indicating the ACLB type. An abutted connection from a first ACLB of first type 303-2 to a second ACLB of the first type 303-3 is designated as 307-3-3. An abutted connection from a first ACLB of a second type 304-1 to a second ACLB of the second type 304-2 is designated as 307-4-4. An abutted connection from a first ACLB of a third type 305-1 to a second ACLB of the third type 305-2 is designated as 307-5-5.

The connections between dissimilar ACLBs are designated 307-x-y, where x and y are digits indicating the two connected block types. An abutted connection from a first ACLB of a first type 303-1 to a second ACLB of a second type 304-1 is designated as 307-3-4. An abutted connection from a first ACLB of a second type 304-1 to a second ACLB of a third type 305-1 is designated as 307-4-5 and so on.

Having a set of pre-designed ACLBs that can be abutted as shown in the EFPGA schematic 301, provides the needed flexibility to implement multiple functionality within the EFPGA.

FIG. 4 shows an abutted layout of an EFPGA 401 that corresponds to the exemplary schematic diagram 300 of FIG. 3. As shown, the four ACLBs of the first type 303-x are designated 303-1 to 303-4, the four 304-x ACLBs of the second type 304-x are designated 304-1 to 304-4 and the two 305-x ACLBs of the third type 305-x are designated 305-1 and 305-2. It has been found that in most EFPGA designs arraying similar ACLBs in columns as far as possible provides the most efficient and area effective layout.

In order to efficiently define an array of the different types of ACLBs, a set of master ACLBs is initially defined based on the design requirements. In the implementation shown, these are the 303 master ACLBs, the 304 master ACLBs, and the 305 master ACLBs. The array location of these ACLBs is then defined. Pin placement decisions are made for abutment of these ACLBs such that the arraying can be efficiently implemented.

FIG. 5 shows the abutment and arraying 500 of the chosen sets of master ACLBs for the design. Once the master sets of ACLBs are chosen and abutted array decisions are made, the number of ACLBs of each type to implement the design can be finalized and arrayed. The configuration of the pre-designed and laid out ACLBs to generate the EFPGA 401 is now done to complete the design using the EFPGA.

Since the master ACLBs are pre-defined it is possible to characterize the delay through each path within the ACLB. Since the connections are by abutment these delays are not modified by wire lengths used for connection, resulting in wiring delays, which in normal FPGAs remain unknown till the design is placed and routed and implemented. This deterministic feature of delay of the ACLBs of the design allow more accurate simulation of timing delays through the designed EFPGAs, during the design phase.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are exemplary representations 600 of the use of pin placements based on neighboring ACLB type to enable abutment of the pre-designed ACLBs as per an embodiment of the invention. In one exemplary representation, the ACLB of type A is shown as having ten pin placement locations 612.

FIG. 6A shows an array of three ACLBs of type A 621, that are abutted. The abutting pin 612 a placement in this case is identical for all three ACLBs 621. The connection 630 between two abutting pin locations 612 a on two adjacent ACLBs of type A 621 is designated as 630-a-a.

FIG. 6B shows an array having ACLBs of type B 622, type C 623, type D 624, and type E 625, each adjacent to one of the four sides of the ACLB of type A 621. The pin placements on the ACLB of type A 621 are staggered and aligned with the pins placed on the adjacent ACLBs. For example, pins 612 placed at a first location 612 b on the periphery of ACLBs of type A 621 will be aligned with pins placed at a second location 613 a on the periphery of adjacent ACLBs of type B 622. The connection 630 made by the abutment is designated 630-a-b. Similarly, a pin 612 d is located on the periphery of the ACLB of type A 621 and a pin 615 a located on the periphery of an adjacent ACLB of type D 624 such that an abutted connection 630-a-d can be made between the two ACLBs.

FIG. 6C shows an array having ACLBs of type E 626, type F 627, type G 628, and type H 629, each adjacent to one of the four sides of the ACLB of type A 621. This array shows similar placement of pins on the periphery of adjacent ACLBs with connection established by abutment as described above. For example, the pin placed on the periphery of the ACLB of type G 628 at location 619 a and the pin placed on the periphery of the ACLB of type A 621 at location 612 g enable an abutted connection 630-a-g between these two adjacent but different types of pre-defined ACLBs.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary implementation of a sample design of an EFPGA 700 using the abutted sets of master ACLBs of types A through H 621-628 that have the right pin placements for making connections between adjacent logic blocks by abutment. Such a layout of an EFPGA 700 may be used to define and check the constraints of the EFPGA layout and programming when using the multiple types of pre-defined ACLBs.

Once the constraints are understood, a full design and layout of the EFPGA 800 as shown in FIG. 8 can be implemented using automated tools by replication and arraying of the selected blocks to achieve the functionality within the established constraints using the abuttable ACLBs of types A through H 621-628. This will enable faster turnaround of the design and reduce the time to market. It will also reduce the cost of circuit implementation for the customers by enabling automation.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flow chart 900 for designing an abuttable EFPGA by the following method:

-   -   Define a set of functional blocks (FBs) based on the design         requirements of the system. S901.     -   The defined FBs are designed and a compact layout for the blocks         is established with predefined pin layout locations. S902.     -   Pin placements are established for the FBs within the         pre-defined locations based on the need for abutment of the         blocks with neighboring blocks. S903.     -   Place pins as defined for abutment. S904.     -   For the designed and laid out FBs with the pin placement, EFPGAs         are identified to generate a set of master ACLBs for         instantiation, abutment and verification. S905.     -   Generate an abutted selected pre-defined ACLB placement layout         of the master ACLBs to ensure that the constraints for abutment         and interconnection are met. S906.     -   Extract performances of the master ACLB layout to ensure that         the needs of the array can be met. S907     -   Establish the array size requirement of the EFPGA from the         original system design. S908.     -   Array the ACLBs using abutment to generate the EFPGA needed for         the system design with the necessary in and out connections.         S909.     -   Place the FBs and program the EFPGAs as needed for the design         being implemented, and do functional verification tests, thereby         completing the design. S910.     -   Extrapolate performances based on master ACLB standalone         performances and verify. S911.

Even though exemplary implementations of the abuttable EFPGA using ACLBs are described they are not meant to be limiting the use of implementation of the technology and method shown. Other methods or features of implementations may be known or may become known to the practitioners of the art, and as such are all to be covered under the present invention disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An embedded field programmable gate array comprising: a plurality of abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs), each the plurality of ACLBs being interconnected with adjacent ACLBs by abutment of an out pin to an adjacent in pin.
 2. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ACLBs is an instance of multiple programmable functional blocks.
 3. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of ACLBs is one of a plurality of ACLB types, wherein each of the plurality of ACLBs of the same ACLB type is an identical instance of the multiple programmable functional blocks.
 4. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 3, wherein the plurality of ACLBs includes a plurality of ACLBs of the same type.
 5. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 3, wherein at least one ACLB of a first ACLB type is adjacent an ACLB of a different ACLB type.
 6. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ACLBs form a first set of ACLBs and the embedded field programmable gate array further comprises one or more additional sets of ACLBs.
 7. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 6, wherein the additional sets of ACLBs are configured identically to the first set of ACLBs.
 8. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 6, wherein the first set of ACLBs and the additional sets of ACLBs are interconnected with adjacent sets of ACLBs by abutment of an out pin to an adjacent in pin.
 9. A system-on-chip integrated circuit that includes an embedded field programmable gate array, the embedded field programmable gate array comprising: a plurality of abuttable configurable logic blocks (ACLBs), each the plurality of ACLBs being interconnected with adjacent ACLBs by abutment of an out pin to an adjacent in pin.
 10. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of ACLBs is an instance of multiple programmable functional blocks.
 11. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of ACLBs is one of a plurality of ACLB types, wherein each of the plurality of ACLBs of the same ACLB type is an identical instance of the multiple programmable functional blocks.
 12. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 11, wherein the plurality of ACLBs includes a plurality of ACLBs of the same type.
 13. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 11, wherein at least one ACLB of a first ACLB type is adjacent an ACLB of a different ACLB type.
 14. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 9, wherein the plurality of ACLBs form a first set of ACLBs and the embedded field programmable gate array further comprises one or more additional sets of ACLBs.
 15. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 14, wherein the additional sets of ACLBs are configured identically to the first set of ACLBs.
 16. The embedded field programmable gate array of claim 14, wherein the first set of ACLBs and the additional sets of ACLBs are interconnected with adjacent sets of ACLBs by abutment of an out pin to an adjacent in pin.
 17. A method of designing an embedded field programmable gate array, the method comprising: defining a set of functional blocks (FBs) based on design requirements of a system; designing the defined FBs; establishing a compact layout for the defined FBs with predefined pin layout locations based on the need for abutment of the blocks with neighboring blocks; placing pins as defined for abutment; generating a set of master ACLBs for the designed and laid out FBs with the pin placement; and generating an abutted ACLB placement layout of the set of master ACLBs to meet the constraints for abutment and interconnection.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: extracting performances of the abutted ACLB placement layout; and ensuring that the needs of the embedded field programmable gate array can be met by the extracted performances of the abutted ACLB placement layout.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: establishing an array size requirement for the embedded field programmable gate array based on the design requirements of the system; and arraying the ACLBs using abutment to generate the embedded field programmable gate array with the necessary in and out connections.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: placing the FBs; and programming the embedded field programmable gate array based on the design requirements of the system.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising extrapolating performances based on master ACLB standalone performances.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising functional verification testing of the embedded field programmable gate array.
 23. The method of claim 17, further comprising characterizing the delay through each path within each ACLB in the set of master ACLBs.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising simulation of timing delays through the designed embedded field programmable gate array using the characterized delays through each path within each ACLB in the set of master ACLBs. 